The present disclosure relates to a method performed by a road segment determining system for identifying beforehand a situation with a potentially in-alert driver of a vehicle. The road segment determining system determines a position of the vehicle, and further determines pre-stored road characteristics of a road segment assumed or known to be ahead of the vehicle. Moreover, the road segment determining system determines the road segment to be monotonous based on comparing at least a first road parameter of the pre-stored road characteristics with predetermined monotonous road criteria. The disclosure also relates to a road segment determining system in accordance with the foregoing, a vehicle comprising at least a portion of the road segment determining system, and a user device comprising at least a portion of the road segment determining system.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method performed by a road segment determining system for identifying beforehand a situation with a potentially in-alert driver of a vehicle, the method comprising: determining a position of the vehicle; determining pre-stored road characteristics of a road segment assumed or known to be ahead of the vehicle, wherein the pre-stored road characteristics comprise geo-tagged driver behavior data parameters that indicate characteristics of driver behavior associated with the road segment for a plurality of vehicles having previously been driven along the road segment; and determining whether or not the road segment is monotonous based on comparing at least a first geo-tagged driver behavior data parameter of the pre-stored road characteristics with predetermined monotonous road criteria comprising preferences for geo-tagged driver behavior data, the predetermined monotonous road criteria referring to preferences making up the criteria for under what circumstances a road section is considered to be monotonous.
A system identifies potentially drowsy drivers. The system determines the vehicle's location and accesses pre-existing data about the road ahead. This data includes how drivers behaved previously on that specific road segment, categorized as geo-tagged driver behavior data parameters. The system then compares these past driver behaviors (e.g., steering corrections, speed variations) to predefined criteria for monotonous roads. If the driver behavior data exceeds certain thresholds indicating monotonous road conditions preferences, the system flags the road segment as potentially causing driver drowsiness, identifying a potentially in-alert driver of a vehicle.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the pre-stored road characteristics are available prior to the vehicle being in a vicinity of the road segment.
The method from the previous description about identifying potentially drowsy drivers on monotonous roads using geo-tagged driver behavior data, also makes the pre-stored road characteristics available before the vehicle actually reaches that road segment's vicinity. This means the system can anticipate potential drowsiness and prepare countermeasures proactively.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the pre-stored road characteristics comprise: digital map data of the road segment.
In the method for identifying potentially drowsy drivers on monotonous roads based on geo-tagged driver behavior, the pre-stored road characteristics also include digital map data of the road segment. This digital map data provides information about the road's geometry, curvature, and other physical features, which is used in addition to the geo-tagged driver behavior data.
4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the pre-stored road characteristics comprise: digital map data parameters indicating characteristics of the road segment which potentially affect alertness of the driver.
Building on the method of identifying potentially drowsy drivers by using both geo-tagged driver behavior and digital map data, the pre-stored road characteristics contain digital map data parameters that may affect the driver's alertness. This includes information about curves, elevation changes, intersections, or other features known to influence driver attention.
5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising: initiating, by the road segment determining system, an activity adapted to avoid the situation with the potentially in-alert driver of the vehicle and/or adapted to improve alertness of the driver, if it is determined that the road segment is monotonous.
If the system determines that a road segment is monotonous based on analysis of driver behavior and/or map data, the method from the drowsy driver detection also involves initiating an action to prevent driver drowsiness or increase alertness. This activity is triggered automatically by the road segment determining system.
6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the activity comprises: a software-based function adapted to cognitively stimulate the driver, wherein the software-based function includes executable instructions stored on a non-transitory medium; and/or a function considered to be driver-distracting and which is prohibited from use during absence of the determination that the road segment is monotonous.
In the method for preventing drowsiness on monotonous roads, the initiated activity includes either: a software-based function designed to stimulate the driver's cognitive activity (using executable instructions stored on a medium), or a software-based function considered to be driver-distracting and which is prohibited from use during absence of the determination that the road segment is monotonous. This means, for example, that the driver can access a distracting app only when the system determines that a monotonous road is expected.
7. The method according to claim 5 wherein the activity comprises a software-based alertness task application including executable instructions stored on a non-transitory medium.
Expanding on the method to counter driver drowsiness, the system can launch a software-based application that presents alertness tasks to the driver (using executable instructions stored on a medium). These tasks are specifically designed to maintain or improve the driver's level of alertness and avoid the negative effects of monotony.
8. A road segment determining system adapted for identifying beforehand a situation with a potentially in-alert driver of a vehicle, the road segment determining system comprising: a position determining unit adapted for determining a position of the vehicle; a characteristics determining unit adapted for determining pre-stored road characteristics of a road segment assumed or known to be ahead of the vehicle, wherein the pre-stored road characteristics comprise geo-tagged driver behavior data parameters that indicate characteristics of driver behavior associated with the road segment for a plurality of vehicles having previously been driven along the road segment; and a monotonous road determining unit adapted for determining whether or not the road segment is monotonous based on comparing at least a first geo-tagged driver behavior data parameter of the pre-stored road characteristics with predetermined monotonous road criteria comprising preferences for geo-tagged driver behavior data, the predetermined monotonous road criteria referring to preferences making up the criteria for under what circumstances a road section is considered to be monotonous.
A system anticipates potential driver drowsiness. It has: a unit to determine the vehicle's location; a unit to access pre-existing data about the road ahead which includes past driver behaviors on that road, categorized as geo-tagged driver behavior data; and a unit that compares past driver behaviors to predefined criteria for monotonous roads preferences. If the driver behavior exceeds certain thresholds indicating monotonous road conditions preferences, the system flags the road segment as potentially causing driver drowsiness.
9. The road segment determining system according to claim 8 wherein the pre-stored road characteristics are available prior to the vehicle being in a vicinity of the road segment.
The road segment determining system that anticipates potential driver drowsiness using geo-tagged driver behavior data makes the pre-stored road characteristics available before the vehicle reaches that road segment's vicinity. This allows proactive preparation for potentially drowsy driving conditions.
10. The road segment determining system according to claim 8 wherein the pre-stored road characteristics comprise: digital map data of the road segment.
The road segment determining system which detects potentially drowsy drivers based on geo-tagged driver behavior data also includes digital map data of the road segment in the pre-stored road characteristics. This digital map data supplements the geo-tagged driver behavior data to provide a more complete picture of the road environment.
11. The road segment determining system according to claim 10 wherein the pre-stored road characteristics comprise: digital map data parameters indicating characteristics of the road segment which potentially affect alertness of the driver.
Building on the road segment determining system which uses both geo-tagged driver behavior data and digital map data, the pre-stored road characteristics include digital map data parameters that influence driver alertness. This enhances the accuracy of drowsiness detection by considering factors like road curvature or elevation changes.
12. The road segment determining system according to claim 8 further comprising: an initiating unit adapted for initiating an activity adapted to avoid the situation with the potentially in-alert driver of the vehicle and/or adapted to improve alertness of the driver, if it is determined that the road segment is monotonous.
The drowsy driver detection system that identifies monotonous roads based on driver behavior also includes a unit that initiates an action to prevent driver drowsiness or increase alertness when a monotonous road segment is detected.
13. The road segment determining system according to claim 12 wherein the activity comprises: a software-based function adapted to cognitively stimulate the driver, wherein the software-based function includes executable instructions stored on a non-transitory medium; and/or a function considered to be driver-distracting and which is prohibited from use during absence of the determination that the road segment is monotonous.
In the system for preventing drowsiness, the activity includes either: a software-based function adapted to cognitively stimulate the driver (using executable instructions stored on a non-transitory medium), or a software-based function considered to be driver-distracting and which is prohibited from use during absence of the determination that the road segment is monotonous. This prevents the driver from using distracting apps, unless the system anticipates monotonous road conditions.
14. The road segment determining system according to claim 12 wherein the activity comprises a software-based alertness task application including executable instructions stored on a non-transitory medium.
Building on the system to counter driver drowsiness, the activity can launch a software-based application that presents alertness tasks to the driver (using executable instructions stored on a medium). These tasks are specifically designed to maintain or improve the driver's level of alertness and avoid the negative effects of monotony.
15. A vehicle comprising the road segment determining system according to claim 8 .
A vehicle includes the road segment determining system which anticipates potential driver drowsiness based on location, geo-tagged driver behavior data, and monotony criteria.
16. A user device comprising the road segment determining system according to claim 8 .
A user device such as a smartphone or tablet includes the road segment determining system which anticipates potential driver drowsiness based on location, geo-tagged driver behavior data, and monotony criteria.
17. A computer program product comprising a computer program including computer program code stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium for execution by a computer or a processor to: determine a position of a vehicle; determine pre-stored road characteristics of a road segment assumed or known to be ahead of the vehicle, wherein the pre-stored road characteristics comprise geo-tagged driver behavior data parameters that indicate characteristics of driver behavior associated with the road segment for a plurality of vehicles having previously been driven along the road segment; and determine whether or not the road segment is monotonous based on comparing at least a first geo-tagged driver behavior data parameter of the pre-stored road characteristics with predetermined monotonous road criteria comprising preferences for geo-tagged driver behavior data, the predetermined monotonous road criteria referring to preferences making up the criteria for under what circumstances a road section is considered to be monotonous; whereby a situation with a potentially in-alert driver of a vehicle may be identified beforehand.
A computer program, stored on a non-transitory medium, determines a vehicle's position, accesses pre-existing data about the road ahead including past driver behavior on that road segment as geo-tagged driver behavior data parameters, and compares those behaviors to predefined criteria for monotonous roads preferences. If the behavior exceeds certain thresholds indicating monotonous road conditions preferences, the program flags the road segment as potentially causing driver drowsiness, identifying a potentially in-alert driver of a vehicle.
18. The method according to claim 1 wherein the geo-tagged driver behavior data parameters comprise one or more of a parameter indicating a number of monitored driver behaviors with a high level of in-alertness, a parameter indicating a number of monitored driver behaviors with a medium level of in-alertness, or a parameter indicating a number of monitored driver behaviors with a low level of in-alertness.
In the method for identifying potentially drowsy drivers on monotonous roads based on geo-tagged driver behavior, the geo-tagged driver behavior data includes the number of monitored driver actions showing high, medium, or low alertness levels. This allows the system to assess driver behavior more precisely using granular alertness levels.
19. The method according to claim 18 wherein the predetermined monotonous road criteria comprise one or more of a threshold for a number of monitored driver behaviors with a high level of in-alertness, a threshold for a number of monitored driver behaviors with a medium level of in-alertness, or a threshold for a number of monitored driver behaviors with a low level of in-alertness.
In the method for identifying potentially drowsy drivers on monotonous roads based on geo-tagged driver behavior, the predetermined monotonous road criteria include thresholds for the number of monitored driver behaviors classified as high, medium, or low alertness levels. These thresholds define the specific conditions that trigger a monotony alert.
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September 23, 2015
April 11, 2017
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